The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media influencer and activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to provide verifiable evidence backing his allegation that some police officers stationed at checkpoints identify wealthy motorists and pass their information to kidnappers to facilitate abductions.
The Force made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, CSP Ani Iniedu, following comments reportedly made by Otse at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
VeryDarkMan, who attended the conference as a guest speaker on civil engagement and youth advocacy, reportedly raised concerns about insecurity in the country and alleged that some security personnel could be providing sensitive information to criminal networks involved in kidnapping.
His comments, particularly the allegation that police officers at checkpoints could identify wealthy motorists and transmit their details to kidnappers, drew a strong response from the police authorities.
The Nigeria Police Force said it was prepared to investigate any credible evidence suggesting that its personnel were involved in criminal activities, including supplying information to kidnappers.
However, the Force warned against making sweeping allegations that could portray the entire police institution as complicit in crimes it is mandated to prevent.
According to the police, while there may be isolated cases involving officers who compromise their duties, such incidents should not be used to characterize the entire Force.
The statement said the Nigeria Police Force comprises hundreds of thousands of officers who report for duty every day under difficult, underfunded and dangerous conditions, including personnel deployed to checkpoints where they are exposed to the same criminal elements they are tasked with preventing from operating on Nigeria’s roads.
The Force argued that broad accusations against its personnel could demoralize officers who continue to serve under hazardous conditions while undermining public confidence in the institution.
It stressed that officers found to have compromised their responsibilities would face disciplinary action and prosecution in accordance with the law.
Directly addressing VeryDarkMan, the police formally invited him to submit the evidence upon which his allegations were based.
The Force specifically requested any evidence showing that police personnel at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and subsequently transmit their information to kidnappers for the purpose of facilitating their abduction.
The police assured that any credible information provided by the activist would be treated with urgency and subjected to a thorough investigation.
The Force also warned public figures against making sensational claims at major public events without supporting evidence, urging individuals with credible complaints against security personnel to make use of established disciplinary and investigative channels.
The police maintained that legitimate criticism of security institutions is necessary for accountability, but argued that allegations lacking evidence could damage public trust and potentially have implications for national security.
The controversy comes amid persistent public concerns over kidnapping, banditry and alleged criminal collaboration involving rogue security personnel in parts of Nigeria.
Claims that corrupt or compromised security operatives leak information to kidnapping and bandit groups have repeatedly generated public debate, particularly as highway abductions continue to pose security challenges in parts of the South-South, Middle Belt and North-West regions.
The 2026 NBA Conference in Port Harcourt has also featured extensive discussions around human rights violations, arbitrary arrests and detentions, alleged extortion, institutional accountability and failures within Nigeria’s security architecture.
VeryDarkMan used his appearance at the conference to raise broader concerns about institutional corruption and security failures, with particular attention to police checkpoint operations along major interstate routes.
The police response has now placed the burden of proof directly on the activist, with the Force making clear that it is willing to investigate and prosecute any officer found to have participated in kidnapping-related activities if credible evidence is presented.
For now, the central question raised by the controversy remains whether the allegations can be substantiated with verifiable evidence capable of identifying specific officers, locations or instances in which police personnel allegedly supplied information to kidnappers.